How Carla and Geoff keep the fire burning

One celebrity couple who shows no signs of doing a Billy Crawford-Nikki Gil is Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenmann. The sweethearts are looking forward to their third anniversary next month. This early, Geoff already gave Carla his anniversary gift:  a pair of formal shoes she can wear with her long gown.

Carla, on the other hand,  already has a gift in mind: a formal watch Geoff can wear as she holds his hand in red carpet affairs.

Read related story: Geoff on building his dream house and career

How do they keep the fire burning?

“Buti na lang he has no project right now. He can  easily adjust to my schedule,” Carla said at the story conference of her upcoming comedy film, Regal Entertainment’s . “Let’s Take a Chance.”

But there was a time when both of them were busy, and they had to squeeze in time to watch a movie and go on dates.

Those days are back,  in Carla’s case, that is. She hardly gets enough sleep these days.  She is studying  three  movie offers  and is slated to do a film before the year ends.

The star of the hit GMA drama series “My Husband’s Lover (MHL)” agrees her new Regal movie is an offshoot of her successful gay-themed program where she plays Lally, the beleaguered wife of Tom Rodriguez’s gay character Vincent.

“My Husband’s Lover” paved the way for “Let’s Take a Chance,” where I’m happy to  star with Tom again.

On portraying 'Lally'

And while she’s glad people are calling her Lally when they see her in public, Carla notes that she is not prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for her family the way her beleaguered character does.

“Hindi ko kakayanin ang ganyang sitwasyon  sa totoong buhay (where the husband has a gay lover). That’s  why hanga ako kay Lally. Kung mahal ka ng asawa mo at pwede kang ipaglaban, okay. Pero kung tulad siya ni Vincent, I will let go.”

Also read: ‘My Husband’s Lover’ creator wants CBCP to watch show

Carla adds that unlike Lally who is “makimkim,” hers is a sunny disposition that sees her through intrigues and trials.

She also can’t imagine how someone like Lally can endure so much pain.  And she felt it herself as she played Lally day in and day out.

Yes, Carla admits, an award for her much-applauded portrayal of the wronged wife who suddenly discovers her husband is gay, would be nice.  But it’s not her ultimate goal.

So how did she manage to come out that convincing in that big revelation scene?

“I  never used my personal experience as motivation for that particular scene. I just focused on the character.  I’ve never been so involved in a character as I have been that time.”

Carla admits she and the rest of the cast, like Dennis Trillo, Kuh Ledesma, Chanda Romero, Roi Vinzon and others are always up on their toes to maintain the high ratings.

“Akala mo nabigay na yung pasabog, na yon na ang revelation, but the writers keep on challenging us everyday.”

Keeping life stress-free

Surprisingly, the daily challenges don’t stress her out.

“I’m enjoying everything because the team behind the series ay napakasarap kasama. Napakasaya namin as a team.   We don’t notice the time and the lack of sleep.”

Carla will be shifting from a brooding to a happy character once she starts Jun Robles Lana’s “Let’s Take a Chance” where she’s playing quirky, tacky Lira.

“I’ll be crying in MHL, laughing in Let’s Take a Chance.”

It’s a big test to Carla’s versatility, and a challenge she can’t wait to face.